Enhancing School Safety: Measures, Partnerships, and Future Steps

1. School Safety & Security Presented by Dr. Scott G. Martzloff, Superintendent Dr. Anna Cieri, Assistant Superintendent, Exceptional Education & Student Services John Askey, Chief of Police, Town of Amherst James McNamara, Captain, APD March 13, 2018

2. We must do everything we can to maximize the physical and emotional safety of our students.

3. What’s been done to enhance school safety? • Installed security cameras (total of 276) in August 2013. • APD has real-time access to cameras • Installed buzzer system with camera and intercom at every main entrance; added visitor protocol in 2013. • Established building safety teams with regularly scheduled meetings and drills. • Established locked classroom and office door protocol; improved security locking mechanisms on classroom doors. • Numbered classroom windows and doors to assist first responders.

4. What’s been done to enhance school safety? • ID swipe card access system for all employees (2013). • Increased number of proximity card access pointsat building entrances (92 in total). • Annual safety training for all employees. • Established District Safety Planning Committee with quarterly meetings led by Erie 1 BOCES Risk Management • Ongoing monitoring of the local, state, and national dialogue regarding school safety.

5. What’s been done to enhance school safety? • Strong Partnership with Amherst Police Department • Upcoming meetings with the APD • School Liaison Officer (SLO) – Random building checks • Collaboration in conducting drills, including large scale simulated drills and drug searches • Conducted active shooter drill at North High, May 2015 • After-hours security coverage at each high school for afterschool activities and athletics • Ongoing two-way communication. • Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)

6. Violence Prevention - Drills 12 Fire and Emergency Drills required annually • Four lockdown drills • 6 fire drills; 2 lockdown drills between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31 • 2 fire drills; 2 lockdown drills after Jan. 1 • Four fire drills must be through fire escapes or alternate route • Also, • Drills must take place at different times during the school day. • Students are instructed on what to do if a fire occurs during lunch or an assembly. • 4 drills are conducted in collaboration with the APD; feedback provided by the APD.

7. SAVE Legislation NYS Safe Schools Against Violence in Education Act 2000 (Enacted after the Columbine tragedy) • Among the requirements: • District-wide and building-level emergency response and safety plans. • Establishment of emergency response safety teams. • Coordination and collaboration with local law enforcement. • Annual school safety training for staff and students. • 2016 Amendment: Added annual violence prevention and mental health training for all staff.

8. Common Emergency Response Terms • EVACUATION • Pre-designated off-campus evacuations sites for each school. • LOCKDOWN • Students and staff are kept in locked rooms within the school due to an imminent threat. • LOCKOUT • Response to an actual or potential threat from outside the school building; all outside school activities are cancelled. • SHELTER IN PLACE • When it’s safer inside the building than outside (e.g. incident near school property; weather). • HOLD IN PLACE • When an urgent incident or medical emergency is occurring in a school location.

9. Hide, Run, Fight • Important conversation with students and staff: • HIDE: Close and lock all doors; move away from windows and doors; stay out of sight. • RUN: If you are in immediate danger or if a breach of your secured location is imminent, get out anyway possible. • FIGHT: If an intruder enters the classroom, use WHATEVER means necessary to protect life and/or neutralize the assailant.

10. Current Status: Emotional Safety • Established threat assessment protocol. • Counseling (individual and group). • Contacts, connections and referrals to community resources. • Ongoing professional development for mental health staff. • Social-Emotional Learning and Mindfulness • Recognizing and responding to student mental health concerns • Annual in-service for all employees to include responding to acts of violence, awareness of mental health needs, and suicide prevention measures.

11. Current Status: Emotional Safety • Wellness programming and asset development at all levels. • 2016-17 Wellness Report • Implementation of Web Crew (MS) and Link Crew (HS) transition programs. • Implementation of mindfulness w/ focus on social-emotional learning. • Suicide assessment protocol with training for mental health staff. • Implementation of Sources of Strength at all three high schools. • Integrated Character Education Program

12. Next Steps for Consideration • SRO program for all schools • Additional cameras • Enhanced physical safety (doors, walls, windows, etc.) • Enhanced emotional supports • Connect students to a meaningful adult-led activity • A security audit • Additional Professional Development

13. "These tragedies must end, and to end them, we must change. We will be told that the causes of such violence are complex, and it is true. No single law, no set of laws can eliminate evil from the world or prevent every senseless act of violence in our society. But that can't be an excuse for inaction. Surely we can do better than this." • December 16, 2012 • President Barack Obama • Newtown, Connecticut